Mass bird deaths in Western Australia

[kiwibird]

Mass bird death discovery near landfill
Posted 1 hour 28 minutes ago

Map: Perth 6000
The Western Australian Government is investigating around 160 bird deaths near a landfill around 30 kilometres south of Perth.

The Department of Environment and Conservation says the birds including ibis, silver gulls and ravens have been found dead within a one-kilometre radius of the Henderson landfill site, in Perth's southern suburbs.

Officers from the Department have been at the site since last night.

Blood samples from the birds are being analysed at the WA Chemistry Centre.

The Department says it is monitoring some of the remaining live birds from the area to work out what caused the deaths.

http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2009/05/30/2585389.htm

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Mass bird deaths in Western Australia

Investigation into bird deaths

Posted 18 minutes ago

* Map: Henderson 6166

The Department of Environment and Conservation is waiting on test results to determine what caused the deaths of around 200 birds near a Perth landfill.

The department says the birds, which included ibis, silver gulls and ravens, were found dead within one kilometre of the Henderson landfill site.

Some sick birds have been captured for monitoring and samples of blood and stomach contents of the dead birds are being analysed.

The Department's Ken Raine says it is likely they were killed by a fast acting toxin.

"They have died very close to the landfill and an adjacent quarry where there's water," he said.

The tip has been covered to prevent further bird deaths and the public is being warned not to touch the animals.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/31/2585549.htm